Sarah
Ever wish you had a rare irregularity of the brain? I have. Synesthesia is a condition which causes the synesthetic person to "translate" one sense into another (for example, a sound-to-taste synesthetic might "taste" strawberries when they hear the trumpet) and it's also a poetry craft term for using one sense to represent another. I named this sock pattern "Synesthesia" because the simple curved shape of the
pattern stitch brought to mind so many things which weren't visual or
textural -- instead, I look at it and I see the sound of lapping water,
or soft echoes. (For another photo, see yesterday's post.) Synesthesia is just one of those odd quirks nature throws into people now and then, and to me it seems that synesthetics are incredibly lucky -- their experience of the world is just that much richer.
Below: Synesthesia chart. This would also look good in a toe-up sock. And don't you think a picot cuff would be cute? And what about that star toe -- that might be cool. Go to town -- you don't have to stick with the pattern I wrote! Speaking of which, I checked through it and didn't see any glaring errors (I wrote it as I knit the first sock, then test-knit from it for the second) but there may be some lurking (like the lack of a key to the chart symbols -- thanks Ruth!). Please let me know if you find any!
Synesthesia Socks
by Sarah Fama
You will need: about 400 yards fingering-weight sock yarn (I used Cherry Tree Hill in the blues/greens colorway, but these would also look great in a solid yarn such as Louet Gems.)
1 set of 5 size 2 US DPNs, or size needed to get gauge
Gauge: 7st/1"
Size: This sock is designed to fit a women’s US shoe size of approximately 7/8. Slightly larger shoe sizes have the option of adding one more repeat of chart pattern on foot for a longer sock; the pattern is stretchy enough to accommodate a slightly wider or smaller foot.
Notes: If you are worried about gaps where the first and last stitches are picked up along the gusset, pick up one extra at the beginning of the picked-up stitches and knit it together with the previous stitch, then pick up one extra at the end and knit it together with the following stitch – this way you can start the gusset decreases with the correct number of stitches.
When you knit across the gusset stitches you picked up in the previous round, I recommend you knit through the back of the loops to tighten them, as picked up stitches tend to be loose. On all subsequent rounds knit these stitches normally.
Twisted rib: p1, k1tbl, repeat to end of round.
Cuff
CO 68 stitches, distributing evenly among 4 needles so that each needle has 17 stitches. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches, and work in twisted rib for 12 rounds. Piece should measure approximately 1".
Begin working Synesthesia pattern from chart. Repeat rows 1-8 four times, ending on round 8 of pattern.
Heel
K 17 stitches, turn work, purl across 34 stitches. Begin working heel as follows:
Row 1 (RS): sl1, k to end.
Row 2: sl1, p to end.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 17 times for a total of 34 rows. There should be 17 selvedge stitches on each side.
Turn heel as follows:
Row 1 (RS): k 19, ssk, k1, turn work.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1.
Repeat these last 2 rows until all heel stitches have been worked, ending p2tog. 20 stitches remain.
Gusset
Knit back (RS) across all heel stitches, then pick up 17 stitches evenly along heel selvedge. Work across held instep stitches in charted pattern (you should be beginning with row 1 again), then pick up 17 stitches down other side of heel, and knit across 10 heel stitches.
The round now begins at the center back of the heel.
Round 1: Knit from center back of heel (with needle 1 [N1]) to last 2 picked-up gusset stitches, k2tog. Work with needle 2 across first half of instep stitches (worked in patt) and with needle 3 across second half of instep stitches. At beginning of needle 4, ssk, knit to end of round.
Round 2: knit
Repeat these 2 rounds until 68 stitches remain (17 on each needle) continuing always to work instep stitches in charted pattern. Continue to work as established (instep stitches in pattern, sole stitches in st st) until chart has been worked a total of 13 times.
Toe
Round 1: On needle 1, k to last 3 st, k2tog, k1. On needle 2, k1, ssk, k to end. On needle 3, k to last 3 st, k2tog, k1. On needle 4, k1, ssk, k to end.
Round 2: knit
Repeat these 2 rounds until 36 stitches remain, then repeat round 1 until 8 stitches are left on needle. Cut yarn leaving a long tail, and Kitchener the remaining stitches together.
Make sock #2.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block lightly to fully bring out lace patt. Or just wear them, because that works too.
Abbreviations
CO: cast on
k: knit
p: purl
tbl: through back loop(s)
k2tog: knit two together
ssk: slip, slip, knit (slip two stitches as if to knit, then knit them together from this new orientation)
yo: yarn over
RS: right side (the "public" side of your knitting)
WS: wrong side
The Legal Stuff
Please feel free to print out a copy of this pattern for your personal use! If you want to share it with a friend, though, please send them a link so they can print it themselves. Work for a yarn shop and you want to share this pattern with your customers? By all means, knit up a sample and write down the URL for anyone who is interested. Printing it out for customers, however, is a no-no, and selling this pattern is a definite no-no. Side effects may include startitis, second sock syndrome, and mild euphoria. If you experience a knitting session lasting longer than four hours, there is no need to see a doctor.
I've been saved! When I got home yesterday afternoon, I was pleased as punch to see a package waiting for me -- Sockapalooza socks from my sock savior! Aren't they lovely? Thank you so much, Petra!
That's not all, either -- Petra also sent me a lovely gift (I love tote bags, and this one is especially appropriate considering what I've been up to all week -- it says "shopping queen." My mother-in-law and I did not get a lot of knitting done this week while I was visiting, but we had fun adding to our respective stashes. We also did some clothes shopping. I may have lightly abused the credit card. More on that later!) She also knit an adorable -- seriously, utterly freaking adorable -- pair of wee socks for Measure! (Click on the little photo to see more shots of the socks on my Flickr photostream.) Thanks again, Petra -- this made my day. You're a great sock savior!
